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The Finch Effect: The Five Strategies to Adapt and Thrive in Your Working Life [Hardcover]

Nacie Carson
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Book Description

May 22, 2012
Evolve your work strategy and thrive in today's high-pressure economy

As Darwin famously observed, the beaks of each generation of Galapagos Island finches change to accommodate shifting food resources, allowing the birds to survive by adapting their capabilities to the new environment. Today's business people should take note: In the post-crisis economy, traditional career strategies spell professional extinction, but the fluid new "gig economy" offers tremendous potential for anyone willing to adapt. Based on her popular blog and drawing on her leadership development experience, Nacie Carson explains what it takes to make it in today's world of work.

  • Outlines and explains five steps for ensuring professional success: adopt a gig mindset; identify your value; cultivate your skills; nurture your social network; and harness your entrepreneurial energy
  • Builds on Carson's experience as a popular blogger on Portfolio.com and author of the popular website The Life Uncommon (thelifeuncommon.net)
  • Features a Foreword from Craigslist founder Craig Newmark

The Finch Effect offers the information professionals need to earn big, achieve their potential, and remain at the top of the work food chain.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Every chapter of this book is worth it, but the last chapter sets the whole thing ablaze. Read this.”
—Chris Brogan, president, Human Business Works; and bestselling author, Trust Agents and Social Media 101

“In this chaotic day and age, merely ‘adapting to change’ is woefully inadequate. In this powerful book, Carson gives us the keys to thriving and succeeding in this and all economies—and that beats adaptation any day.”
—Steve Farber, author, The Radical Leap Re-Energized

“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. Nacie Carson’s The Finch Effect provides solid ideas and strategies on how to adapt your career in a new professional paradigm through both preparation and action.”
—Carol Roth, business strategist; New York Times bestselling author, The Entrepreneur Equation

“Unless you’ve been living in a cave with no access to the internet, you no doubt have witnessed our world being turned on its head. The business environment no longer favors people looking for security, loyalty, and certainly not a pension. The Finch Effect sheds light on what traits allow people to thrive in today’s economic environment, how to adapt these traits, and how to evolve faster to prepare for the next big shift!”
—John Haydon, founder, Inbound Zombie; author, Facebook Marketing for Dummies

“Nacie Carson brings a fresh mindset and solid experience to show us how to win again in times of vocational Darwinism and the ‘gig economy.’ Her ability to distill ideas and support them with situations and stories we all recognize makes The Finch Effect a crucial tool for taking back control of our businesses, our careers, and our lives.”
—Liz Strauss, social business strategist; author, Successful-Blog

From the Inside Flap

"The collision of chronically high unemployment with an expanding global workforce (among other factors) has turned the American job market into an ongoing survival-of-the-fittest scenario where professionals have a clear choice: evolve their careers or risk career extinction."
From Chapter One

In On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin famously observed that the beaks of each generation of Galapagos Island finches change to accommodate shifting food resources, allowing the birds to survive by adapting their capabilities to the new environment. Today's business people should take note: in the post-crisis economy, counting on traditional career strategies spells professional extinction. But for those willing to adapt and take their career fates in hand, there are tremendous opportunities ahead.

In this breakthrough resource, career expert Nacie Carson shares a set of five strategies, the "Finch Effect" (named in honor of Darwin's avian inspirations), that helps professionals at any stage of their career to not only survive changes in the world of work but to thrive on them:

  • Adopt a gig mindset: Stop waiting for the job market to "go back to normal" and instead reframe your perspective to create new—and more interesting—career ladders.

  • Identify Your Professional Value: Isolate, differentiate, and leverage what makes you stand out from other professionals.

  • Cultivate Your Skills: Identify how to develop the skills central to your new professional brand to their highest potential.

  • Nurture Your Social Network: Learn to craft, package, and communicate your adaptive professional brand through social media—or learn to do it better.

  • Harness Your Entrepreneurial Energy: Build and employ entrepreneurial skills andtactics to optimize your position in the new world of work.

The Finch Effect is filled with the strategiesand information you need to earn big, achieve your potential, and remain at the top of thework food chain.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (May 22, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1118134281
  • ISBN-13: 978-1118134283
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #978,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nacie Carson is a professional development author who focuses on career evolution, entrepreneurship, and authenticity. Her eclectic background - which includes historical research, a stint in corporate America, and experience as a young entrepreneur - coupled with her work in leadership development and executive coaching, has given her a unique perspective on how to craft a career and lifestyle that is meaningful, successful, and authentic.

Her writings on career development, life balance, and the gig-economy are published regularly at Entrepreneurs-Journey.com and Portfolio.com as well as at her site, The Life Uncommon. Nacie also serves as the director of development services for a boutique professional development firm in the Boston area.

Nacie received her BA in History and is a member of Red Sox Nation. She currently lives in Boston with the love of her life.

Customer Reviews

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(18)
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I hope you'll take some time to read the book yourself. Melani Clare Ward  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
Nacie gives a fresh perspective in this well written and easy to read book. Davey  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, Specific and Helpful May 24, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Finally! Someone has recognized that the world has changed dramatically and figured out a way to deal with it! The Great Recession has changed a lot more than our economy. The Finch Effect identifies and accepts the ways the American workplace has changed and identifies steps that people can take, not just to adapt, but to capitalize on these changes and carve out a more successful and fulfilling career.

There are three things about this book that really set it apart from others in the genre:

1. Specificity: this book is filled with specific, actionable suggestions and tips. So many career books speak only in the most general terms. As I read, I found myself slotting my personal attributes and career goals into the five steps.
2. Inspiration: Nacie has a wonderful voice. Never patronizing or defeatist, her realistic analysis of the changing job market and tips for adaptability challenge and inspire the reader.
3. Versatility: the steps and advice presented in The Finch Effect are applicable to all ages and career paths. The anecdotes and examples provided show how different people have utilized these ideas and taken action to improve their careers and quality of life. It doesn't matter if you're 20-something or 60-something; you can adapt like Darwin's finches!

I devoured this book. It doesn't present a pie in the sky view of career advancement. Rather, it is realistic, straightforward and actionable. I was energized and inspired when I finished.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you, FInch Effect! June 12, 2012
By Leah
Format:Hardcover
Finally! An honest, straightforward and engaging book that tackles the biggest question of our time! As an individual who has spent years discerning careers versus passions, I was comforted by Carson's message of creative survival in the work place. Carson tells us not to wait as professionals and not to settle for what is expected. For years I thought there were only two options in careers: being overly idealistic and waiting for the dream job or settling for mediocrity. The Finch Effect, however, provides an approachable set of tools to tackle balancing today's economy with the career you envision and the life you desire.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Information June 13, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
Just finished The Finch Effect by Nacie Carson, and got some very helpful ideas out of it. I liked her thoughts on being more entrepreneurial and leveraging your social network.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Get it today! October 16, 2012
Format:Audible Audio Edition
I just finished the book, The Finch Effect: The Five Strategies to Adapt and Thrive in Your Working Life, by Nacie Carson.

Let me start out by saying that this is the best book I've ever read on work and professional development related to your work in our current economy.

In The Finch Effect, Nacie shares with you five strategies to help you be successful in your professional life. From having the right mindset, to identifying and honing your professional brand, and then cultivating skills that line up with that brand. She also includes a chapter on social media and one on harnessing your entrepreneurial energy.

Quote

"In this unsettled, challenging time, when the applicant-to-job ratio hovers at 5:1, I would identify two kinds of professionals: those who are treading water (at best), waiting for the job market to recover from this latest recession, those who are advancing their careers and helping to shape the job market of tomorrow, in spite of the challenges."

Who should read this book?

If you are a young professional, recent college graduate, or soon to be college graduate, run don't walk to pick up your copy of this book. Also, if you are in your 30′s or 40′s, or are a more seasoned professional looking to learn how to be successful in the current economy, with all the changes that have and are continuing to take place, get this book today.

Drew Tewell, author of The Dream Job Program: Get the job you want.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Survival of the fittest December 9, 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author provides practical tips for surviving in the new Gig economy. Gone are the days of working for only one company. Today's workers should consider themselves entrepreneurs whether they work for themselves or within a company. Emphasis is placed on the importance of social media to build an individual brand. I think this book should be on everyone's to be read list, so that they can avoid the fate of the dinosaurs.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am currently looking for independent sales agents to sell my advertising and marketing product and services suite. I'm finding great people who are still thinking that the world of the BR (before recession) will return. I don't think so, and The Finch Effect is a (the) blue print for those of us who realise we must evolve and adapt to move our working lives forward. This book is really a must read for anyone who has a job, wants to adopt a "gig" mentality, or needs for find a new career! I am recommending this book to everyone who applies for our sales agents job. Congratulations Nacie! This book is a winner!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Career Tool - Well Worth a Read October 19, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Nacie has a light and approachable style and she infuses that into all of her writing. I have managed to devour my fair share of career books but The Finch Effect stood out for three reasons.

1.) It was a pleasure to read from front to back. I felt like I was sitting down with a good friend rather than a preachy expert. Even better, by the end of it I had learned something about myself that surprised me, which is always fun. Here's my surprise: I don't resonate with the word entrepreneur at all. Even though I have had my own business for the past seven years, I have never felt entrepreneurial. The important thing about that is not that I don't relate to the word, but rather I have a negative judgement about not relating to it. Not anymore though. Thanks to Nacie.

2.) It's practical and Nacie actually offers a plan that is more doable and less overwhelming than you get in a lot of career books.

3.) Her discussion on the adaptive professional brand (APB) is brilliant. Whether you're looking to get a new job or you're happier as an entrepreneur, Chapter 3 will be invaluable to you.

I hope you'll take some time to read the book yourself. It's well worth it. You'll not only feel differently about yourself but you'll feel differently about what you're capable of. Go buy the book and all will be well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for anyone interested in...
being sure you connect to the right people in your work.

Ms. Carson has hit the nail on the head for creating my personal brand in this new era--taking the personal... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lisa Hamaker - Kaliday
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential advice on succeeding in today's New World of Work
If you're reading this review, then chances are good that you're wondering what's next for your career. Read more
Published 8 months ago by S. Elizabeth Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight on how to approach your career
The Finch Effect provides great insight on how to approach the current job market, while considering your personal motivation/passion. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Justin
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend to all my job search clients
Nacie Carson wrote the book I was going to write and saved me the trouble. Now I can use it as a foundation, and build upon the concepts she lays out. Read more
Published 9 months ago by PointA_PointB
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and practical lessons for young professionals in a changing...
The Finch Effect is a vital teacher and "How-To" guide that will help any young professional learn how the rules of the "career" game have changed so drastically in recent years,... Read more
Published 9 months ago by D. Ursillo Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and very well-written
Nacie did a great job with this book.

The writing is exceptional. I don't remember the last time I read a book that was written this well. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jacob
5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding read
Probably one of the better books about adapting and adjusting to meet a changing and challenging business climate. Read more
Published 12 months ago by philm5s
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